In this video, Gary tests the suitability of the 32 Winchester Special cartridge for hunting whitetail deer at 100 yards. Spoiler: It works. See the video description for further reading. www.rifleshoot...
@@pete1342 That story gets repeated over and over again, but it doesn't add up. A bullet fired from a 32 Win Special barrel will still spin at a rate of 1 turn every 16 inches of travel even if the rifling is worn. If the rifling wears out to the point that the bullet starts slipping and not following the twist, then no bullet from any cartridge of any twist rate is going to be accurate. I'd say the reason for the 32 Specials current obscurity is twofold. The 30-30 came 1st and had years to establish itself. In addition, the 32 Special is so similar to the 30-30 that most shooters chose the more available of the two when the 32 Special eventually was introduced. Regarding rifling wearing out in 32 Special barrels, a slower twist rate rifling should certainly last longer than a fast twist since less shear force will be imparted to the lands with the slower twist. The bullet is being spun up slower, hence less force. I have rifles chambered for both.
So … I started using more Hornady Leverevolution ammo. I started having feeding issues. Next I used some Remington Corlock in 170gr. It had issues feeding as well. Put some Winchester through my rifle no issues at all. Also put some 30-30 Federal rounds through it but did not shoot it … no issues feeding. Couldn’t figure why the issue with Hornady and Remington. Then I measured the rim diameter. The Hornady and Remington both had bigger rim diameter than the Winchester and Federal 30-30 brass. About 3 to 4 thousandth bigger on avg. Seems to be the issue. Just fyi.
Nice rifle. The Winchester Model 1894 is a timeless classic..never goes out of style. I have a Winchester Model 1894 in .30-30 Winchester caliber. It is the 'Classic' model with full octagon barrel, roll-engraved receiver and solid forend cap instead of the barrel band. It is a sweet shooter I enjoy shooting it.
I enjoyed that. I just picked up a 1956 vintage 94 on 32 special. Just learning about the round. That Hornady ammo had like 200 more FPS. What an innovative company, I really respect all they do! Nice setup, I thought you shot really well. Not easy with iron sights. Keep up the good work. 👍
Thanks for the comment Geoff. Hopefully that '56 shoots well. The Hornadys certainly are quicker than the Winchesters. More aerodynamic too. That means more energy on target. Provided they group well in your gun, they'd be the better choice for extended-range shooting.
Just shot the Hornady 165 FTX Leverevolution today in my 1960 vintage 94. Shot a great group of about 1.1 inch at 50 yards (open sights). Seem to work in my gun. Good thing cause it’s all I could find in factory loads at the moment!
Your rifle has the nice front sight that a lot of model 94's do not have. The type of front sight on your rifle works well with a hood and also looks better.
I think every levergun I've ever used hornaday leverevolution ammo in it has shot MOA or under. Try resting on your forend instead of the magazine tube, and use brass punch to move your rear sight.
I saw a comment on another channel about model 94 specifically in 32 W.S. The commenter said he’s seen a lot of barrels pitted due to past use of black powder (the 32 has slower twist rate and was marketed to black powder users), also the primers of the time were corrosive.
That is a good point Naps. Black powder can do a number on a barrel if the proper cleaning procedures are not followed. Gary said that he only ever used Winchester Super X ammo (and later Hornady LeverEvolution) in this particular rifle. It is possible, but very unlikely, that Winchester was using black powder in their commercial 32 Special loads in the 1970's. We will do another video with this rifle comparing the groupings from a dirty and clean bore.
My father left me a 1926 winchester model 94 32 special. I have 3 boxes of amo. Cant find anymore so i never shoot it. My father shot many deer with that rifle.
I’ve tested every ammo I could find through several model 94’s and the Hornady always disappoints. Both the Leverevolution and the American Whitetail. Best results were Core Lokt with Winchester a close second. (Also it might cycle better if it’s not pointing straight up)
Great video!! Bought this same rifle last year, figured I have two 30 30s, why not add a 32 win spl, but to this day I have not fired it, can't find ammo anywhere for the life of me. Where are people finding them!?!?!
It's a great rifle, but finding ammo is definitely a problem, especially now. We shot old stock in this video. Canadian Tire used to carry the Winchester brand, but thanks to the pandemic, the supply has dried up.
I did find 32 Win Spec. ammo for $60 a box of 20, damned expensive, it took a lot of looking. I now load my own ammo for all my guns. I am 2nd owner 1941 32 Spec. and haven't fired it yet as I just finished making ammo for it.
Hornady is not a reliable manufactuer IMHO ! Now some may argue that but I have proved it to myself more than once !! I have not bought any in Years I reload for what I shoot which is best ! Thanks for the video, as a fellow Left hander , I was looking into a .32 win , 1965 model The price was my hold out on it .
Thanks for the comment Murray. Glad we could be of service to you. As for Hornady ammo, some people swear by it, and others won't touch it. Ultimately, one has to push through the noise and go test it out in their own rifle. Compare it to different brands. Try reloading too. The best ammo for your gun is the stuff that performs the best in it, not what some guy on the internet said was best.
I inherited one of these from my grandfather. I checked the serial number and it was made in 1900. It bbn is a true Wonchester, i am not sure if it is safe to shoot. The action is like butter and tight. Do you think it is safe to shoot?
If you are serious about shooting your grandfather's rifle, we recommend that you take it to your nearest gunsmith, and have them check it thoroughly. If they say it's safe to shoot, go ahead and put some rounds through it. Lower pressure ammo would probably be best given its age. If you do not have access to a gunsmith, you can look it over yourself - but be careful. Get a small flashlight and check the bore for pitting, wear, rust, and any other damage. Clean it too. If the bore is in good shape, check to see that the action works properly, and locks firmly in place. Examine the stock for cracks, splitting, and fit. If everything checks out, it is probably safe to shoot with low-moderate pressure ammo - but no promises.
I’ve been told all my life that the 32 Special was not an accurate cartridge. Never owned one myself. And the variety of ammo available for it is limited. Well, you definitely proved that it isn’t very accurate. Never owned a 30-30 that shot that bad. Id be selling that one and buying a 30-30 to replace it.
The variety of ammo for the 32 Special is very limited indeed. Over the years, we have seen three factory loads for it in the entire country, none of which are available at the moment. As for selling the rifle and buying a 30-30, we've got that covered. Look at what's on the table behind the 32.
Mine's a 32 special (model 94) and it's the most accurate riffle I have ever own. Extremely precise, so it depends apparently. Leverevolution woks wonderfully according to my experience.
